History Main / SillyRabbitCynicismisforLosers

** Red is a firm believer in this. While discussing [[DarkerAndEdgier grimdark]] as a trope on "Trope Talk", Red openly states that she finds the whole prospect of grimdark to be inherently boring, and she doesn't see the appeal, along with [[SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids this trope's counterpart]]. She thinks that the idealists ultimately have it better. The world can get dark, yes, but one look at history will tell you that it has gotten immensely better over time, usually thanks to idealists. For this reason, Red also bashes the NinetiesAntiHero in a video about the AntiHero subtypes, saying that being such a hero being a JerkSue, that she really dislikes the character type, and further hates how it brought about the idea that being cool means being a cynical self-righteous asshole.

** Red is a firm believer in this. While discussing [[DarkerAndEdgier grimdark]] as a trope on "Trope Talk", Red openly states that she finds the whole prospect of grimdark to be inherently boring, and she doesn't see the appeal, along with [[SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids this trope's counterpart]]. She thinks that the idealists ultimately have it better. The world can get dark, yes, but one look at history will tell you that is has gotten immensely better over time, usually thanks to idealists. For this reason, Red also bashes the NinetiesAntiHero in a video about the AntiHero subtypes, saying that being such a hero being a JerkSue, that she really dislikes the character type, and further hates how it brought about the idea that being cool means being a cynical self-righteous asshole.

* ''VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs'' starts with ComicBook/TheJoker performing his self-titled "ultimate achievement": make ComicBook/{{Superman}} suffer that "one bad day" that could drive a man to madness by making Superman accidentally kill his wife Lois Lane and their unborn child, which also set off a bomb that wiped Metropolis off the map. Superman is so blinded by his grief that he decides to ditch heroics and TakeOverTheWorld alongside the Regime, which is comprised of other superheroes that have been driven to similar levels of cynicism by various misfortunes. The heroes that fight against the Regime all believe that [[FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse bad things happening to you doesn't means that you get to take it out on the rest of the universe]]. And in the majority of the MultipleEndings, the heroes go on to [[HopeBringer become the symbols of hope that the world desperately needs]]. [[ComicBook/{{Convergence}} A few crossover]] [[ComicBook/InjusticeVsMastersOfTheUniverse appearances]] of the ''Injustice''-verse in comics sees the heroes of the tale (and even [[EvenEvilHasStandards a few villains]]) essentially calling the Regime a bunch of super-powered whiners who have giving into cynicism. The Regime's belief that fascism and [[BewareTheSuperman throwing their weight around because nobody can stop them]] somehow making them morally superior is frequently shown as a self-defeating surrender to cynicism. This is shown at the end of the first ''Injustice'' game with a MirrorMatch between the prime version of Superman and the Regime version of Superman, where Prime Superman says that Lois dying doesn't justify what the Regime has done, to which Regime Superman can't coutner except with self-righteous whining.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_50968MO0PU "Satirizing Superman"]] is an analysis of Franchise/{{Superman}} by Red and Blue. The video examines Superman's origins as a character, what makes him tick, and his role both inside his stories and as part of the greater meta-versal superhero ecosystem, along with the best examples of Superman at his finest. Two of the examples are from Creator/AlanMoore, who they note fundamentally understands Superman, and lament that Moore's work is [[MisaimedFandom so chronically misunderstood by less skilled writers]] who tend to only see the surface-level cynical aspects. They basically end the diatribe with a KirkSummation that caring is a genuinely good thing and the world isn't and shouldn't just be bad and miserable, and we always should be striving for a better world and to hold bad actors accountable, because to give into cynicism and not do anything about bad things is cause a SelfFulfillingProphecy to happen.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_50968MO0PU "Satarizing Superman"]] is an analysis of Franchise/{{Superman}} by Red and Blue. The video examines Superman's origins as a character, what makes him tick, and his role both inside his stories and as part of the greater meta-versal superhero ecosystem, along with the best examples of Superman at his finest. Two of the examples are from Creator/AlanMoore, who they note fundamentally understands Superman, and lament that Moore's work is [[MisaimedFandom so chronically misunderstood by less skilled writers]] who tend to only see the surface-level cynical aspects. They basically end the diatribe with a KirkSummation that caring is a genuinely good thing and the world isn't and shouldn't just be bad and miserable, and we always should be striving for a better world and to hold bad actors accountable, because to give into cynicism and not do anything about bad things is cause a SelfFulfillingProphecy to happen.

* Red from ''WebAnimation/OverlySarcasticProductions'' is a firm believer in this. While discussing [[DarkerAndEdgier grimdark]] as a trope on "Trope Talk", Red openly states that she finds the whole prospect of grimdark to be inherently boring, and she doesn't see the appeal. Just looking at history shows that things have objectively gotten better, so going around and saying that everything will only get worse is firmly disproven by human history.

* Red of ''WebAnimation/OverlySarcasticProductions'' briefly touches upon this in her Grimdark trope talk, along with [[SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids its counterpart]]. She thinks that the idealists ultimately have it better. The world can get dark, yes, but one look at history will tell you that is has gotten immensely better over time, usually thanks to idealists. For this reason, Red also bashes the NinetiesAntiHero in a video about the AntiHero subtypes, saying that being such a hero being a JerkSue, that she really dislikes the character type, and further hates how it brought about the idea that being cool means being a cynical self-righteous asshole.

* Red of ''WebAnimation/OverlySarcasticProductions'' briefly touches upon this in her Grimdark trope talk, along with [[SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids its counterpart]]. She thinks that the idealists ultimately have it better. The world can get dark, yes, but one look at history will tell you that is has gotten immensely better over time, usually thanks to idealists. For this reason, Red also bashes the NinetiesAntiHero in a video about the AntiHero subtypes, saying that being such a hero being a JerkSue, that she really dislikes the character type, and further hates how it brought about the idea that being cool means being an asshole.

-->'''Craig:''' And if there is any hope for any of us in this giant explosion in which we inhabit, then surely that's it: intellect and romance triumph over brute force and cynicism!

* Creator/CraigFerguson said something to this effect as a summary of the main theme of ''Series/DoctorWho''. Indeed, the arc of the very first Doctor was that of a bitter old man realizing the importance of kindness and empathy. Since then, the main theme of the show is the triumph of these ideals, no matter how dark the world gets.
-->'''Craig:''' And if there is any hope for any of us in this giant explosion in which we inhabit, then surely that's it: Intellect and romance triumph over brute force and cynicism!

[[folder:Real Life]]
* The point of UsefulNotes/{{Existentialism}}.
** Creator/FriedrichNietzsche, [[StrawNihilist despite the association]] with fatalism, nihilism, anti-idealism and the darkest and edgiest of cynical philosophy, [[TheAntiNihilist actually wrote against]] being an extremely skeptical and life-hating nihilist, while suggesting that it's better to just love life to the fullest while living up to your own ideals no matter how [[BlueAndOrangeMorality blue or orange]] they are.
** Jean-Paul Sartre, the key thinker of the movement, wrote that "Existence precedes essence." You are born, and then you are defined. You are what you make of yourself. If you are a villain, you were not doomed to villainy, your choices made you so. If you are a hero, you were not destined for greatness, it was the combination of your choices that made you that way. Under this philosophy, great heroism and great villainy are both possible by choice. Albert Camus, in his ''Myth of Sisyphus'', went even further, insisting that [[TheDeterminator even when you know you're going to lose, that's no excuse to not keep trying]].
* Conan O'Brien
** In his first show after 9/11, he recounted going to St. Patrick's Cathedral to pray (he's Catholic but admitted that he had not been to church in 8 years until the horrific events of that day spurred him to seek out some kind of comfort and guidance). He claimed that while sitting there, he suddenly realized that although the Twin Towers had been knocked down, that ''this'' beautiful building was still standing, and as such, despite the ugliness that had happened, there was still a lot of beauty in the world. This was the first time he urged his viewers to shun cynicism.
** He ended his run on ''The Tonight Show'' by asking people to please not be cynical, saying "It doesn't accomplish anything".
* Creator/StephenColbert gives us this gem:
-->Remember, you cannot be both young and wise. Young people who pretend to be wise to the ways of the world are mostly just cynics. Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us. Cynics always say no. But saying "yes" begins things. Saying "yes" is how things grow. Saying "yes" leads to knowledge. "Yes" is for young people. So for as long as you have the strength to, say "yes".
* Music/JohnLennon
** [[WordOfGod He mentioned in an interview]] that the reason he was first attracted to Music/YokoOno was because he had been used to and indifferent to avant-garde art exhibits in TheSixties that veered towards cynical, negative, destructive messages, but Yoko's simple, direct exhibit, where one climbed a ladder, peered into a hole in the ceiling, and saw the word "Yes", was in John's opinion more valid in its positivity, hopefulness and affirmative message than the TrueArtIsAngsty approach other Sixties avant-garde artists took. It inspired the often naturally cynical Lennon (at the time suffering through a drug- and fame-aggravated CreatorBreakdown) to see the other exhibits, and later to meet and befriend Yoko.
** For all that he himself tends to be viewed as the dark, cynical and 'deep' member of Music/TheBeatles -- which, in the first two elements at least, is not an unreasonable viewpoint to take -- part of him clearly subscribed to this trope (or at least wasn't very ''happy'' being dark and cynical and wanted this trope to be true). For all his {{Creator Breakdown}}s and darker sides, anyone who describes the man who wrote "All You Need Is Love", "Imagine" and "Give Peace A Chance" as an irredeemable cynic is clearly overlooking something.
* Creator/SethMacFarlane stated that one of the reasons he pitched ''Series/TheOrville'' was because he was tired of seeing cynical grim and gritty sci-fi shows that are contemporary, and wanted a classic better-future-space-adventure science fiction show, not quite explicitly stated in homage to ''Franchise/StarTrek''.
[[/folder]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow'': Double subverted in ''Squirt’s Honor''. Although Cleveland Jr. does get burned for his naive, idealistic outlook - technically proving Rallo’s cynical worldview correct - Roberta harshly berates Rallo for his actions: He was so dead set on proving himself right that he failed to see the human value in Jr.’s positivity. Also, given the many traumatic events Jr. has dealt with in his life, the fact that he maintains such an outlook is a sign of inner strength. This rebuke causes Rallo to do something of a HeelFaceTurn and encourage Jr. to see the good in the world again.

'''Prime Superman:''' She'll be horrified and disgusted!

* This is the crux of the conflict in ''VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs'' (and its related media). ComicBook/TheJoker has performed what he believes is his ultimate achievement: make ComicBook/{{Superman}} suffer that "one bad day" that could drive a man to madness. Supes is so blinded by his grief that he decides to ditch heroics altogether and TakeOverTheWorld alongside other superheroes that have been driven to similar levels of cynicism by various misfortunes (some of which are Supes' fault). The heroes that fight against them are all banded together under the banner that bad things happening to you doesn't means that you get to take it out on the rest of the universe. And in the majority of the MultipleEndings, they go on to become the symbols of hope that the world desperately needs. [[ComicBook/{{Convergence}} A few crossover]] [[ComicBook/InjusticeVsMastersOfTheUniverse appearances]] of the ''Injustice''-verse in comics sees the heroes of the tale (and even [[EvenEvilHasStandards a few villains]]) essentially calling the Regime a bunch of super-powered whiners who have giving into cynicism, believing that fascism and [[BewareTheSuperman throwing their weight around because nobody can stop them]] somehow makes them morally superior.

* This is the crux of the conflict in ''VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs'' (and its follow-up ''VideoGame/Injustice2'' and related media): ComicBook/TheJoker has performed what he believes is his ultimate achievement, make ComicBook/{{Superman}} suffer that "one bad day", and Supes is so blinded by his grief that he decides to ditch heroics altogether and TakeOverTheWorld alongside other superheroes that have been driven to similar levels of cynicism by various misfortunes (some of which are Supes' fault). The heroes that fight against them are all banded together under the banner that shit happening to you doesn't means that you should take it out on the rest of the universe, and in the majority of the MultipleEndings they go on to become the symbols of hope that the world desperately needs, not to mention that in [[ComicBook/{{Convergence}} a few crossover]] [[ComicBook/InjusticeVsMastersOfTheUniverse appearances]] of the ''Injustice''-verse in comics the heroes of the tale (and even [[EvenEvilHasStandards a few villains]]) have essentially called the Regime a bunch of super-powered emos.

See also GrumpyBear, or SourSupporter for character types that can fall into this. May invoke GoodIsNotDumb. A subtrope of TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong if this means that characters who don't agree with idealists are frowned upon. Often overlaps with {{Wangst}}, typically when the character is using it as an excuse for inaction, or when they are immature and conflate extreme pessimism and nihilism with maturity.

* Every rebuttal by the heroes to the villains' YouCantFightFate talk in ''VideoGame/HouseOfTheDead'' carries such an element - a "Fuck you" to SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids.

** When Maud is nearly DrivenToSuicide because she can't tell herself she's happy in her lonely existence anymore, but feels trying to improve her situation would be too much work, Pinkie helps snap her out of it with "WeAllDieSomeday, so don't speed it along and [[TheAntiNihilist try to enjoy the time you have. Worst case, you'll get what you wanted in the end anyway, but you might actually be happy.]]."

These cynics, however, are wrong. Their pessimistic and negligent attitude ironically made them turn lazy, cruel and selfish themselves. They're wasting their entire philosophical intellect and strength of character in their lamentations. In their sheer apathy, they have often actively allowed otherwise manageable problems to ferment and fester into full blown crises and {{Crapsack World}}s. All while missing several golden opportunities to make the world a better place due to constantly thinking about themselves alone in the DespairEventHorizon [[YouCantFightFate for all eternity]]. Often, these cynics actively made the world a worse place by falsely assuming that everyone was out to screw them and thus opting to screw over and exploit everyone else first. They thus prove themselves to be just as dogmatic, narrow-minded, and damaging as they ''think'' the overtly idealistic characters are. All while soothing their egos with an unearned sense of superiority, claiming they're being "realistic" for wallowing in defeatism rather than taking a risk to change the situation they claim to despise so much. These characters are often summarily called out for their {{wangst}} precisely because of this. Fittingly, it tends to be done by the very people that the cynic had regarded as fools. It can also happen when an old-fashioned or young character tries too hard to be what they think an adult is, like a PerpetualFrowner.

* WesternAnimation/SouthPark had Stan join the goth kids in wallowing about the hopelessness of life after Wendy dumps him. However, when Butters also gets dumped he says he still loves life and finds beauty in being human enough to feel pain, snapping Stan out of his funk.

These cynics, however, are wrong. Their pessimistic and negligent attitude ironically made them turn lazy, cruel and selfish themselves. They're wasting their entire philosophical intellect and strength of character in their lamentations. In their sheer apathy, they have often actively allowed otherwise manageable problems to ferment and fester into full blown crises and {{Crapsack World}}s. All while missing several golden opportunities to make the world a better place due to constantly thinking about themselves alone in the DespairEventHorizon [[YouCantFightFate for all eternity]]. Often, these cynics actively made the world a worse place by falsely assuming that everyone was out to screw them and thus opting to screw over and exploit everyone else first. They thus prove themselves to be just as dogmatic, narrow-minded, and damaging as they ''think'' the overtly idealistic characters are. All while soothing their egos with a unearned sense of superiority, claiming they're being "realistic" for wallowing in defeatism rather than taking a risk to change the situation they claim to despise so much. These characters are often summarily called out for their {{wangst}} precisely because of this. Fittingly, it tends to be done by the very people that the cynic had regarded as fools. It can also happen when a old-fashioned or young character tries too hard to be what they think an adult is, like a PerpetualFrowner.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' taps this button a couple of different times throughout the main story plot, before finally coming in for the kill by making it the entire point and focus of the ''Endwalker'' expansion that wraps up the game's first main arc. [[PlayerCharacter The Warrior of Light]] is put through the ringer, undergoes quite a bit of HeroicFatigue from [[DudeWheresMyRespect a lack of respect from common people]], and is expected to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. In spite of that, the Warrior also passes many a SecretTestOfCharacter that proves they have not just HeroicResolve, but the determination to keep going in spite of things continuously looking more and more hopeless. The Warrior could give into cynicism and give up, but they never do, because [[WeHelpTheHelpless somebody's got to step up and fight when things are hard]].

* ‘WesternAnimation/SouthPark’ had Stan join the goth kids in wallowing about the hopelessness of life after Wendy dumps him. However, when Butters also gets dumped he says he still loves life and finds beauty in being human enough to feel pain, snapping Stan out of his funk.

* WesternAnimation/SouthPark had Stan join the goth kids in wallowing about the hopelessness of life after Wendy dumps him. However, when Butters also gets dumped he says he still loves life and finds beauty in being human enough to feel pain, snapping Stan out of his funk.

* ‘’WesternAnimation/SouthPark’’ had Stan join the goth kids in wallowing about the hopelessness of life after Wendy dumps him. However, when Butters also gets dumped he says he still loves life and finds beauty in being human enough to feel pain, snapping Stan out of his funk.

* In an episode of ''Series/BringingUpDaddy,'' Danny Thomas's oldest daughter has fallen for a {{Beatnik}}, and he and Danny end up having a fairly well-written argument about the beatnik's relentless cynicism just being an excuse to avoid ''doing'' anything about the social problems he's endlessly complaining about.

->'''Craig:''' And if there is any hope for any of us in this giant explosion in which we inhabit, then surely that's it: Intellect and romance triumph over brute force and cynicism!

These cynics, however, are wrong. It turns out that their pessimistic and negligent attitude ironically made them turn lazy, cruel and selfish themselves. Wasting their entire philosophical intellect and strength of character in their lamentations. In their sheer apathy, they have often actively allowed otherwise manageable problems to ferment and fester into full blown crises and even {{Crapsack World}}s. All while missing several golden opportunities to make the world a better place due to constantly thinking about themselves alone in the DespairEventHorizon [[YouCantFightFate for all eternity]]. Often they actively made the world a worse place by falsely assuming that everyone was out to screw them and thus opting to screw over and exploit everyone else first, thus proving themselves to be just as dogmatic, narrowminded, and damaging as they ''think'' the overtly idealistic characters are. All while soothing their egos with a unearned sense of superiority for being "realistic" for wallowing in defeatism rather than taking a risk to change the situation they claim to despise. These characters are often summarily called out for his {{wangst}} precisely because of this. Fittingly, it tends to be done by the very people that he/she had regarded as fools. It can also happen when a old-fashioned or young character tries too hard to be what he/she thinks an adult is, like a PerpetualFrowner.